2015 Season

Welcome

Couplings, friendships, human interaction and struggle are all elemental to Salt Bay Chamberfest’s 2015 musical season, Game of Pairs. With a playful spin on the concept of 2, you’ll hear works for pairs of instruments like Ravel’s La Valse for 2 pianos; pairs of performers, such as New York Philharmonic Principal percussionists Daniel Druckman and Markus Rhoten, who will perform Bartók and Reich; plus a few other famous “pairs”, like Johannes Brahms and Clara Schumann; and Schubert’s Death and the Maiden. A highlight of our season will be the world premiere of Romance a trio by Alan Fletcher, commissioned by SBC. We also welcome young composer Andrew Norman, Pulitzer Prize finalist, for a performance of his string trio; and Sowah Mensah, Master Drummer from Ghana, who will perform works of his own as well as traditional African drum music. I hope you will join us all for an exciting, fun-filled season.

August 13, 2015

Thursday at 5:00pm, Lobster Bake & Musical Party

Join us for a traditional Maine Lobster Bake & African Drumming workshop with Sowah Mensah. A great way to get to know other music enthusiasts and Salt Bay Chamberfest musicians in an informal setting!

Bass

Piano

Timpani

Cello

Clarinet

Bassoon

Education Programs

Open Rehearsals at Darrows Barn

Open Rehearsals give community members an insider’s view of the collaborative process of chamber music-making. The rehearsals will be held at Darrows Barn at 10:00am on concert mornings (August 4, 7, 11 & 14) and are free for students and community partners. Anyone may attend with SBC’s new “Subscription Plus Pass.”

Community Partners Program

This program gives the community greater access to the festival. Working with local community members, teachers, and nonprofit organizations, SBC builds mutually beneficial partnerships with social service agencies, local schools, and music teachers, and will welcome diverse audiences for festival programs free of charge. 2014 Community Partners: Big Brothers Big Sisters, Kieve-Wavus Education, Schooner Cove Retirement Community, Spectrum Generations & Chase Point Assisted Living.

Music & Nature Camp and Young Composers Showcase

This program for 9 to 12 year olds is based on a partnership with the Damariscotta River Association. Nationally renowned composer and music educator Jon Deak and the DRA’s Education Coordinator, Sarah Gladu, have blended the curriculum Deak has used successfully for over 15 years in the Very Young Composers project of the New York Philharmonic with the DRA’s popular Camp Mummichog curriculum. By the end of the 2-week session, each camper composes an original piece of music. The young composers and the community hear the world-premier of their new works played by Salt Bay Chamberfest musicians in the Young Composer’s Showcase on August 7 at 4pm at Darrows Barn. Selected compositions will be performed on the Family Concert on August 8. Click here to register your child for camp.

Family Concert

Salt Bay Chamberfest presents a Family Concert at Poe Theater, on the Lincoln Academy Campus. This concert is a great way to introduce your children and grandchildren to classical music. Admission is $5 for adults (children come free); or you may bring a canned good for the local food pantry for each person in your party and attend for free.

Masterclass

Salt Bay Chamberfest offers a piano masterclass on Friday August 14 at 3pm, hosted by Schooner Cove Retirement Community. This program connects world class artists with local young musicians, composers, and community members.

Pre-Concert Talks

Mark Mandarano, conductor and educator, gives an informal talk one hour prior to each concert. These gatherings are fun and informative, and help audiences gain a better understanding of a program’s musical and historical context, as well as how each piece fits into the overall theme of the festival. Audiences will hear musical excerpts as well as interviews with musicians and composers. 2015 Pre-Concert Talks will be held on August 4, 7, 11 & 14 at 6:30pm at Darrows Barn.

Program Notes

Conductor and educator Mark Mandarano also authors the program notes which are printed in the Festival book, tying together information about the individual pieces with the over-arching theme of the Festival. These notes serve as the basis for the broadcast script of the performances on Maine Public Radio.

For more information about any of Salt Bay Chamberfest’s Education & Community Engagement programs, please contact Sarah Glenn at contact@saltbaychamberfest.org.

Videos

Please enjoy our video about the founding principles of the festival, with guests Jennifer Koh, Esa-Pekka Salonen and the members of the Johannes String Quartet.